Monday, November 28, 2016

The Advent Season

The first light of Advent is the light of stonesThe light that shines in crystals in seashells and in bones

The second light of Advent is the light of plantsGreen plants that reach up to the light and in the breezes dance

The third light of Advent is the light of beastsThat shines in all creatures in greatest and in least

The fourth light of Advent is the human lightThe light of hope and of thought, to know and do what’s right

~ Rudolf Steiner ~

The Advent season began yesterday, and with it the journey of light and preparation. Our Advent spiral was placed on our dining room table yesterday, and last night at dinner the first candle was lit and Joseph and Mary began their journey.

This has become a family tradition, something that marks the season for us, and is a huge part of our yearly rhythm. As many of you know, rhythm and ritual are big parts of my life with my little man. These rituals guide us, bringing us closer to the earth, her seasons, and the
festivals and celebrations that flow through the year. What made this year really special was the small reminders I received last week from my little man that this weekend was the beginning of Advent, and that I shouldn't forget to get the spiral out, and the Advent gnome. These rituals are part of who he is, he remembers them, they are in him, and my heart is warmed knowing that these rituals mean so much to him.

Of course with the beginning of Advent the Advent gnome made his appearance. Each week of Advent has a different focus, this first week is on stones, and so our Advent activities, delivered each morning by the Advent gnome, will focus on that. Yesterday we hiked and collected rocks, and today we will wet felt those rocks. Tomorrow we will make window stars, and Wednesday snowflakes. As we move through Advent opportunities for kindness activities come up. During animal week we will make bird feeders to feed our feathered friends, and leave salt licks in the woods for the deer. Human week provides us opportunities to buy food for the food bank, pack Christmas hampers, bake cookies for friends, and offer a gift through World Vision. Advent is a time of sharing our light, and letting it shine on others, and that is what we intend to do.

Yesterday also saw us create our rock spiral. This spiral, made with rocks during this first week of Advent, is just a little something extra to bring to life this season for my little man. Each day the Advent gnome also leaves a wooden star, and my little man replaces a stone with the star, letting the starlight lead us to Christmas day. It's an activity that allows him to witness the journey in a tangible way, and he loves it!

13 comments:

what a beautiful post on celebrating Advent. I am saving some of your ideas for the day very soon (I hope) in which I have grandkids to share with. How do you felt your rocks? Just a lovely, lovely post. Thank you.

Felting rocks...I tried to write out how to do it, but not sure it made any sense at all. I bet if you do a search you will pull up a few videos on how to do it. It's super simple and lots of fun, for kids and adults. Have fun!

I really enjoyed this post, Kim. We celebrate Advent with paper calendars, the kind with a little door that you open each day. Sometimes I get the kind with chocolates in them. I'd like to make a more permanent version sometime. I saw a beautiful kit from Purl Soho that I may buy for myself someday. I really like your Advent plans, it looks like a very peaceful and mindful way to celebrate. Enjoy.

Beautiful! We always celebrate Advent with reading a different holiday book each night before bed. I thought my boys might be getting too old for this practice, but today they said they still want to read those picture books this season.

Thanks Andrea. That is so awesome that they still want to participate in the book reading tradition. I often wonder when all these traditions we have might become "too young" for Reece. One day they might, but for now he is loving them.

Beautiful! Our tradition is to read the Light in the Lantern and add to the nature table each week of Advent based on the verse you have above. This year we are going to implement a "random act of kindness" advent calendar that I stumbled upon in an online HS group. It looks fun! And this year we are hosting our HS group's Yule/Solstice party which will include a small spiral walk and a bonfire. Love the rhythm of old tradition with new things added as my girl gets older. Thinking of you and wishing you a lovely season!

I do love your rhythms. I went away on a Residential Dance Workshop in the bush last weekend and there I learned the value of rhythm and ritual. I came away thinking that even though I am on my own and finding my own way I need to start thinking about rhythm and ritual in my own life to learn groundedness and maybe bring myself a sense of peace within those rhythms. You always talk about yours with such a sense of peace and it really resonates with me. Thank you for sharing, as always. xox

Yes, you so need to do that Leisa. It has been so helpful to me to have these rhythms and rituals throughout the last year. It has been very grounding, and centering, and brings a peace and calm into the chaos. It is also a strong reminder of what is important to me as I move forward on this new path.

Welcome to Mothering with Mindfulness. My name is Kim, Waldorf inspired homeschooling mama to one, writer, nature lover, dreamer, and lover of all things handmade. This is my space. A space to share with you my journey through motherhood, as I walk along the path of simple, mindful living. I invite you to join me as I learn and grow.